I discovered that my favorite Sushi place Fuji Grill closed abruptly with apparently no explanation. It was located in the strip mall just north of Parky's on Harlem in Forest Park. IMHO (as did many others based on reviews) they had the freshest fish, best presentation and friendliest staff of all other Sushi places in both Forest and Oak Park. We ended up at another place in Oak Park (which shall remain nameless.) that was a major disappointment and couldn't compare to Fuji Grill. Overall a very disappointing evening.

Why does man kill? He kills for food. And not only food: frequently there must be a beverage. Woody Allen

Marshall K wrote:I discovered that my favorite Sushi place Fuji Grill closed abruptly with apparently no explanation. It was located in the strip mall just north of Parky's on Harlem in Forest Park. IMHO (as did many others based on reviews) they had the freshest fish, best presentation and friendliest staff of all other Sushi places in both Forest and Oak Park. We ended up at another place in Oak Park (which shall remain nameless.) that was a major disappointment and couldn't compare to Fuji Grill. Overall a very disappointing evening.

We wound up there a few months ago on a weeknight with the family. Agreed that, in the past, the fish was always quite good and the staff friendly. On this particular night, they were definitely struggling. Very short-staffed. Instead of properly busing the three active tables in the dining area they were just stacking plates, etc on a nearby empty table. One party came in and waited at the host stand for a long time and left before they were seated due to nobody even approaching them.

Our meal was still delicious - though the special rolls were not very special, which was a change from our previous experiences there - and the one person working the room was as friendly as ever. But, it was pretty disconcerting. I'm not surprised they closed given that evening. It leaves a hole, it was our go-to for dining in; Sen Sushi is our take-out mainstay but dining there with our family during peak dinner is a challenge. I don't think any other place nearby can fill that gap.

You could / can do worse than Penny's. I actively like the goofily-named Thai Ravioli bowl - they make the cha siu and the shrimp dumplings for it in house. Note that this dish is a mess when ordered to-go / delivery: dine-in only, please.

Other acceptable items include the Vietnamese spring rolls (not the Thai spring rolls) with their house mustard sauce (especially while Saigon Pho is closed, but when/if it reopens, go back to Lake Street), the spicy basil noodles with minced (specify minced) chicken or pork, and the Thai fried rice platter with basil and a runny fried egg requested atop. I try the Thai beef salad every other year and it never quite hits the spot. YMMV.

Panther in the Den wrote:Read they had promised to be open by the Blooming event on Saturday and driving by this afternoon they were packed.

I think they were doing Friends and Family yesterday, with the intention of being open to the public today. Pretty exciting to see the first new restaurant to open on Harrison (save the pie shop) since I moved west. I feel a touch of sympathy for Trattoria 225 across the street (pizza and pasta never great, but it was *there,* and they could make a martini), which has a sexy new wood-fired competitor in DKT.

The stalwart...Inos7100 W Roosevelt Rd, Oak Park... has a For Sale sign in the window. Still open for business.

I have been a fan ever since they were located just on the other side of Harlem and Carm’s Beef occupied their current spot.

Several unique items, double burritos, all beef burritos and their special Steak and Mushroom burrito.

Most of their menu was prepared well to this standard.

Don’t know what the story is about the sale.——————————

I managed to drop by for one of my favorite...

Steak and Mushroom Burrito

... and it was as good as ever.

I always thought of it as Mexican with a French flair.

Talking to the employees it seem that the restaurant is just looking to get out of Oak Park and not to close. Trying to find a new spot in Berwyn/Cicero. For Sale sign has been up since early in the year.

While waiting for my order I noticed (and asked) that they are making their tacos from a whole (not chopped) piece of skirt steak (ala: Mr Taco) and avoiding the dreaded ‘Bucket ‘o Grease’ and cooked to order. Going back to give one of these a try.

That's especially because my great-uncle died this year, who had been their paying breakfast customer M-Sa from day one 50 years ago until the week he passed (at 98). His Sunday haunt: Denny's, with even more sullen WWII vets.

I don't care if the guy is sullen, he runs a pretty decent hot dog stand.

Any way if I were to host a work event, I'd consider Citrine. Not amazing but I've been a bunch of times and they run a professional place. No disasters for the most part. Except when they put sun dried tomatoes on my father in laws wedge salad.

FYI, I did end up at Amerika's for work last night and thought it was quite good. Two of us share 3 plates, which was plenty. They added a free amuse soup, creamy carrot and serrano. The octopus was well cooked, although the dish was heavy on the potatoes to make it substantial. Barramundi had a nice crisp skin. Skirt steak was perfectly cooked but a bit messy to eat under a bed of shoestring potatoes. Flavors were bold and interesting, although some might suggest things were consistently a bit salty. Beer and wine offerings were decent, perhaps slightly off the beaten path. Service was good and outdoor seating on Lake was a bonus on a nice night. Plates ran around $20 which seemed fair for the size.

I'd gladly go back, and I am sure I will, but I don't know what niche this place fills in my world. It isn't necessarily a destination place I'll get a sitter for, but probably slightly too fancy / pricey to be an everyday kind of spot. The flavors are bold, so it won't suit everyone and isn't probably a family choice. So, great spot, and Oak Park is lucky to have it, I just need to figure out how to use it.

Inquiring about the beef manufacturer it was mentioned it was made homemade at the mother restaurant and when inquiring about which...

Nonna D's7109 Roosevelt Rd, Berwyn

Should bode well as we have no complaints about them.

Today I grabbed a bowl of minestrone to go and had to ask for a spoon, napkin and a piece of bread as I was waiting for My Bride at Jewel across the street and was going to have a snack.

The pizzas are a rectangular 1/2 baking sheet style. Surprised as I thought it might of been the round, brick oven style that is so good down the street.

Pizza looked a little stale. Not much business, on the weekends you can see some Family gents sitting on the patio and when I was there today a trio of cops came in.

Waiting for my order the deli guy made a pair of Italian subs. Looked good enough, will give them a try.

Heading out the door and next to the pizzas I spotted something odd and asked, Spaghetti Pizza. A friend of mine is a big fan so I went back and got a slice of that too and had to ask for some red sauce and parmesan cheese.

During the semi-annual bar crawls I was talking with one of the bar owners and he mentioned that all the gambling places, bars, restaurants and deli were owned by the same guy. Different names to protect the innocent.

Just another place for cash flow, I don't think that Big Guy's a short distance away has anything to worry about.